Pleasures of Provence

Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1, Canada Tel: 519-756-4900 / 519-753-2695 - Fax: 519-753-6376 [email protected] – www.pauwelstravel.com

Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Café Terrace at Nights’ (This photo and other photos free of copyright c/o Wikimedia Commons)

PLEASURES OF PROVENCE

Marseille – Nimes – Arles – Avignon – Orange – Camargue – Pont du Gard etc.

12 days, from Friday, October 7, to Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Enjoy superb scenery celebrated by Van Gogh, amazing Roman monuments, a sunny Mediterranean late summer, and excellent food and wine during a relaxed exploration of France’s southern Provence between two great urban poles, Marseille and Nimes. The tour will be escorted by historian Jacques R. Pauwels, PhD, who will lecture on the history and culture of the area.

Tour price, based on double occupancy: $2,750 CAD from Toronto (plus approx. $625 in airport taxes and related fees) - “Land only” (from/to Marseille Airport): $2,400 - Single room supplement: $675)

PROPOSED ITINERARY:

(Meals included: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)

Day 1 - Friday, October 7: Early evening departure from Toronto for Paris with Air France. Dinner and a light breakfast will be served on board.

Day 2 - Saturday, October 8: (D) Early morning arrival in Paris, and short connecting flight to Marseille, France’s second biggest city, a major Mediterranean seaport, and the great metropolis of the Provence. Arrival around 11AM, and transfer to the centrally-located first-class/4-star Hotel Mercure Centre in the historical heart of the city, the district of the old harbor or Vieux Port, bisected by the famous Canebière Avenue (www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-1148-mercure-marseille-centre-vieux-port-hotel/index.shtml). Free time to settle in and get some rest after your overnight flight. In late afternoon, short introductory walk in the Vieux Port district, followed by welcome dinner in the hotel or in a typical restaurant.

Marseille’s Old Port and the Church of Notre Dame de la Garde (This photo, by Benbalchere, photos free c/o Wikimedia Commons)

Day 3 - Sunday, October 9: (B) After breakfast, we continue our local sightseeing program with visits to Notre Dame de la Garde, the huge church overlooking the city, and the Museum of the Roman Docks, showcasing the ancient history of this great Mediterranean seaport with artifacts that are the fruit of recent underwater archeological research. Afternoon at leisure. Weather permitting, we recommend a boat tour to the nearby inlets along the Mediterranean coast, known as Calanques, or to the Château d'If, a small island off the city, formerly used as a prison featured in a famous novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte-Cristo.

Day 4 - Monday, October 10: (B, D) Morning visit to MUCEM, the new (2013) Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations; this museum was established here because Marseille is one of the oldest cities in Europe, having been founded by Greek colonists around 600BC! Afternoon free to shop and/or enjoy the city on your own. Group dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 5 - Tuesday, October 11: (B, D) Departure after breakfast. We motor along the shores of the lagoon known as the Etang de Berre to the village of St. Chamas, where we pause to admire the Pont Flavien, an impressive Roman bridge, dating back to the first century AD. On via the Crau landscape, a kind of stony desert, to Les Baux, an amazing medieval ghost town perched high on a hill in the curious Alpilles Mountains. Our next stop is the quintessentially Provençal town of St. Rémy, boasting twin Roman monuments known as Les Antiques as well as memories of Van Gogh, who spent time here in an asylum. Crossing the mighty Rhone River at Tarascon, dominated by a mighty castle associated with the legendary 15th-century “Good King René” of Provence, we arrive in Nimes in late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in the centrally located first-class/4-star hotel Novotel Atria (www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-0985-novotel-atria-nimes-centre/index.shtml).

The Maison Carrée >

Day 6 - Wednesday, October 12: (B, D) Morning walking tour of Nimes, with focus on the city’s amazing Roman monuments, including a very well preserved temple, the so- called Maison Carrée, as well as an amphitheatre (or arena) where bullfights are now occasionally performed. Dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 7 - Thursday, October 13: (B) Full-day excursion to another urban pearl of Provence, Orange, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also famous for its impressive Roman monuments, in this case a fine triumphal arch as well as what is possibly the best preserved of the handful of Roman theatres that still exist. In the afternoon we briefly stop in the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape to taste the world famous, high-quality wine, and before arriving back in Nimes we visit the Pont du Gard, an amazing Roman acquaduct, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the middle of a wonderful Provençal landscape.

The Pont du Gard (This photo, by Bouba, c/o Wikimedia Commons)

Day 8 - Friday, October 14: (B) Full-day excursion to nearby Avignon, a medieval city still surrounded by its old walls, and situated on the banks of the mighty Rhone River; the historical centre of Avignon has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Higlights will be our visits to the huge Papal Palace and the ruins of the monumental old St. Bénézet Bridge, made famous by the song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrtsgcvm9zs). Also some free time before our late-afternoon return to Nimes.

Day 9 - Saturday, October 15: (B) Day entirely free day to explore Nimes on your own, shop at the morning market, take a walk in the beautiful Jardin de la Fontaine, and/or visit museums such as the Musée du vieux Nîmes, the Archaeological Museum, and the Fine Arts Museum.

< Avignon on an ancient print

Day 10 – Sunday, October 16: (B, L) Full-day excursion to the mysterious Camargue, the delta of the Rhone. This is a vast and fascinating wetland, crisscrossed by rivers and canals and inhabited by migratory birds, including pink flamingoes, as well as horses and bulls, raised by French “cowboys” on vast ranches known as “mas.” Our sightseeing program includes visits to the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes and picturesque Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer with its fortified church, focal point of a famous annual pilgrimage. Group lunch of regional specialties in a typical restaurant.

The Roman amphitheatre in Arles

Day 11 – Monday, October 17: (B, L or D) Departure from Nimes after breakfast. We head for Arles, located on the banks of the Rhone River, an ancient and charming Provençal town featured in many paintings by Van Gogh, who lived here for some time. Our walking tour includes all the monuments that earned this town the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site: the fine Romanesque St. Trophime Church and Cloisters; the Roman necropolis known as Les Alyscamps; the Roman theatre, very impressive amphitheatre, and baths; and the quaint Place du Forum, where the café featured in Van Gogh’s ‘Café Terrace at Night’ is just perfect for a coffee break! Also free time to explore on your own or shop. In late afternoon we continue to our hotel at the Marseille Airport, the Golden Tulip or similar. Our final group meal will be either lunch in a country restaurant OR dinner in the hotel or in a nearby restaurant.

Day 12 – Tuesday, October 18: (B) Following breakfast, transfer to Marseille Airport via the hotel’s shuttle service in time for the 10:30 departure of our return flight with Air France to Toronto, via Paris, arriving around 4PM.

Included in the tour price are: - Return flight Toronto-Marseille, via Paris, with Air France; - Accommodation in first-class/4-star hotels, based on double occupancy; the single room supplement is $675; - Breakfast daily and a total of six 3-course dinners or lunches; - Overland transportation by private coach; - All sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary, including admission to museums and monuments mentioned.

Not included are: -***The usual combination of airport taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges, presently (February 2016) approximately $625, but subject to change. - All items of a personal nature. - Beverages with dinners, and meals other than those outlined above. - A gratuity for the coach driver(s), normally $30 or equivalent in local currency - Travel Insurance, available upon request.

The medieval ghost town of Les Baux PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695/519-756-4900 Fax: 519-753-6376 Email: [email protected] Ont. Reg. #1034992

TERMS AND CONDITIONS ______

RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS: Reservations should be made as early as possible to ensure the departure of your choice. A deposit of $750.00 is required at the time of registration. Your reservation is confirmed upon receipt of your deposit and application form. No reservations will be accepted without a signed application form.

REFUND OF UNUSED ARRANGEMENTS: Because the rates of Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. are based on group participation, no refund can be made for any tour accommodation or tour service or tour feature not taken. If cancellation occurs while the tour is in progress, no refund can be made for the tour portion not taken. We strongly suggest that to allow for any unexpected contingencies, you purchase the all-inclusive insurance.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refund of deposit is made in full if cancellation is received in writing by Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. more than 90 days prior of the departure date of the tour less a $500.00 non-refundable administrative fee per person. For cancellation received in writing 90 days prior or less the following cancellation charges apply: 90 days to 46 days before departure: 25% of tour cost 45 to 31 days before departure: 50% of tour cost Within 30 days prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

RESPONSIBILITY: Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. reserves the right without notice, to withdraw any part or all of the tour. Factors such as airline schedule changes, hotel overbookings, inclement weather, etc. may necessitate changes in the itinerary as outlined. There may also be other circumstances in which changes become necessary or advisable. Any savings realized by these changes will be passed on to the passengers, any resultant expenses shall be borne by the passenger. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. acts only as an agent in securing hotel, transportation and other travel services and in no event shall be held responsible for the failure by any person or company to render any transportation, lodging or other travel service to be provided on the tour. All hotel, transportation and other travel services are provided to tour members subject to all the terms and conditions under which they are offered to the public generally. The acceptance of the initial service to be provided under the tour shall be considered an acceptance by the tour member of those conditions. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. also reserves the right to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion of the tour operators.

AIR TRANSPORTATION: Transatlantic economy flight by scheduled IATA carrier(s), based on an economy class group fare. All fares are subject to specific rules and regulations, to changes and to government approval. Deviations from the group flights are possible but subject to higher rates. Pauwels Travel will research any request for date or routing changes at the time they are requested. Should any individual rate be less than the group fare plus airline and administrative fees, the lower rate will be offered to the tour participant. Individual airfares are subject to immediate ticketing and the fare plus taxes must be paid at the time the ticket is issued by the participant requesting the change. Should the group airfare be the lowest available rate, an administrative fee of $50.00 plus any airline charges will apply.

APPLICATION FORM

Please book ___ seat(s) on the “Pleasures of Provence” October 7 – 18, 2016. Enclosed is my/our deposit of ______($750 per person, plus insurance premium if taken.) Please indicate with an X if you intend to travel on Group flights______or Land only______Deposit and insurance premium, if taken, are due with registration. You will be invoiced for an interim payment of $1000.00 and the balance due 45 days prior to departure. WE REQUIRE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT (INFORMATION PAGES ONLY) VALID 3 MONTHS AFTER TOUR DATE TO BE SENT IN WITH YOUR APPLICATION. PASSPORT NAME(S): Please indicate the appropriate title (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr., Ms.) Surname______First______Middle(s)______Surname______First______Middle(s)______If applicable, give your commonly used first name as you would like it to appear on your name tag: (e.g. “Liz” for “Mary Elizabeth”) ______ADDRESS______Postal Code: ______PHONE: ______(Email)______If traveling alone, is a SINGLE ROOM REQUIRED? YES_____ NO_____ If sharing, what is your bed preference: twin______double______? SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: We find the earlier a request is made, the more success we have in filling it, so please list any dietary requests, allergies, any special physical needs or frequent flyer numbers etc here. Please be advised that due to Airline policies, individual seat selection is not always available on group fares and cannot be guaranteed by our agency. We cannot ensure requests made 30 days or less prior to departure will be possible. ______Insurance, Please call the office for premiums then record it on application and add premium to deposit. I /we would like to purchase (please check and record your rate): Name: ______Date of Birth:______Name: ______Date of Birth:______All-inclusive Package $______Non-medical Package $______Other $______OR Decline Insurance ______PAYMENT: Cheque payable to Pauwels Travel Visa Mastercard American Express Amount Paid: ______Card Number: ______Expiry: ______Security Code: ______Signature: ______“I/we agree to the terms and conditions attached to the program, have indicated our insurance choice, indicated any special requests and included payment”. Date______(Signature)(s)______Please forward this completed and signed form, copy of passport and payment to: PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695/1-800-380-3974/519-753-2695 – Fax: 519-753-6376 Email:[email protected]